Drill supporting column



Oct. 17, 1933.

V. L. SCOTT DRILL SUPPORTING COLUMN Filed June 16, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l -'llllllllll Hm iii 1 N V EN TOR.-

ATTORNEY.

Oct. 17, 1933. v. SCOTT DRILL SUPPORTING COLUMN I Filed June 16, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Will/l/I/rlfffllh Q---------L By wm rd,

A TTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 17, 1933 J UNITED v STATES The present invention relates to drilling apparatus, with particular reference to the post or column structure which is used for supporting a drilling machine ofthe type employed for drilling shot holes, orthe like, in'the mining of coal, rock, salt, and other work of this character.

Accordingly, the invention has for its object to provide an improved form of post or column support adapted to provide a secure and rigid supporting structure for the drilling machine, but also one which will permit all the required adjustment of the operative position of the machine, as well as enabling the various adjustments to be made both quickly and conveniently. One special feature of importance is the provision of a column structure which will permit the necessary rotative movement for adjustment of the drilling position about a verticalaxis, and at the same time by its rigidity protect the drilling mechanism from any strains due to lateral sway such as would be caused by any twisting or turning tendencyof the supporting column.

Various other features of improvement reside in the improved form of footpiece member provided for the base of the supporting column, and also for adjusting the vertical extension of the post or column into operative position, and securely anchoring the same in this position.

With the foregoing general objects in view, as well as various minor objects'to appear in the'course of the detailed description, the invention will now be more particularly described by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating one form of apparatus which I have devised for embodying the proposed improvements,- afterwhich those features and combinations deemed to benovel will be set forth and claimed.

In thedrawings-- Figure 1 is an elevation, with parts broken away and others in section, illustrating a post or column constructed in accordance with the present invention; a

Figure 2 is a similar view of the lower portion of the column, with the jack rod adjusted to practically its fully extended position;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, illustrating a section taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figures 4 to 6 are transverse sections taken on the lines 4-4=, 5-5 and 6-6, respectively, of Figure 1;

, Figure '7 is a similar sectional view, representing a section on the line 7--7 of Figure 2;

PATENT OFFICE 1,930,598 6 V I Q 7' I DRILL SUPPORTING- COLUMN Victor L; Scott, ottumwa, Iowa Application June 16, 1930. Serial No. 461,506"

6 Claims. (01. 255-43) Figure 8 is a detail of the jack bodycasting member; and g Figure 9 is a similar detail of the cup casting which supports the main column member upon the jack body casting.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, these illustrate the improved column structure as comprising at its lower end a jack staff or rod 10 which is vertically adjustable within a jack body casting llprovided with a key 12 fitting in a key way 14 formed in the rod 10 (see FigureB). The lower end of the jack rod 10 is forked as indicated at 15 for straddling the vertical web portion 16 of a footpiece member to which the jack rod is pivoted by means of a bolt 17 carrying a nut 18, as shown in Figures 1 to 3. The foot;

piece is formed with twospurs or prongs 19 at its form to the curved lower ends of the lugs of the fork 15 to form stirrups or saddle elements 21 for engagementwith said lugs below the pivot bolt 1'7, this pivotal connection and stirrup or saddle structure being nearer to one of the spur terminals 19than to the other, as represented in Figures 1 and 2. V

The side of the jack rod 10 opposite its keywayf 12 isformed with ratchet teeth 22 for engage-- ment with a set ofratehet pawls 2324 carried by a jack lever 25 on opposite sides of its fulcrum 26 in an opening 27 in one side of the jack body casting 11. The ratchet elements 23 and 24 are maintained normally in engagement with. the teeth 22 by means of spring elements' 28, [andeach ratchet element is provided with a pin 29 projecting laterally through an opening 30in the casting 11, for facilitating the manual release or tripping of the pawl elements, when desired. The upper ratchet element 23' is formed with a shoulde'r'31 for engagement with a notch 32 in the other pawl 24 when the ele--' ment 23 is fully retracted, to maintain the same out of engagement with the teeth 22, for collapsing the column by telescoping the rod 10 within the same, as shown'in Figure 1;

The upper'main column member 33 is of tubular form and of square cross section, with one face provided with ratchet teeth 34 for latching engagement with a lever 35 forming'a part of the drill mounting member 36, which is vertically adjustable upon the column 33 as required, The specific construction'of this'drill mounting 36 is not herein described or claimed, the same forming the subject matter of my copending application, Serial No. 461,507 filed concurrently herewith. The upper end of the tubular column 33 is provided with an anchoring spud or spur element 37 having a maximum diameter no greater than that of the column 33, and formed with a reduced shank portion 38 adapted to fit into the upper end of the column 33, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The lower end of the column member 33 is seated in the upper cup portion of a combination rotative and clamping casting 39 having an interior upwardly projecting flange 40 adapted to fit fairly snugly the lower open end of the column 33 as shown in Figure 2, so that the cup portion of the casting 39 is thus formed with a groove or channel 41 providing a clamping seat for the lower end of the column 33. r

One side of the cup portion 39 is split (see Figure 4) and provided with projecting ears or lugs 42 fitted with a clamping bolt 43 for securely clamping the cup portion of the casting 39 to the column 33. The bottom of the cup casting 39 is formed with a reduced cylindrical extension or sleeve 44 which is rotatively fitted within a somewhat larger semi-cylindrical extension 45 projecting upward from the jack body casting 11 and formed with an internal semi-circular groove or channel 46 for receiving a bead or flange 47 on the lower end of the extension 44 (see Figure 2). For cooperating with the extension 45 in clamping the extension 44, and thus holding the cup casting 39 and column against rotation, I

' provide a semi-circular clamping collar 48 having a similar interior groove or channel 46, and

' formed with a pair of ears or lugs 49 cooperating with similar lugs 50 on the extension 45 for acv 1 commodating clamping screws 51 and 52, the 40' necessary rotative adjustment of the column may N collar 48. Y

be obtained, after which by tightening of these screwsthe'cup casting 39 will be securely held by clamping of its extension 44 between the, extension 45 and the collar 43, these parts forming in effect a quick-action clamping bracket.

It will be seen that the column is supported by 50' engagement of the bottom face of the enlarged cup portion of the casting 39 upon the shoulders formed by the upper edges of the extension 45 of the jack casting and the upper margin of the umn. To prevent the complete withdrawal of the jack staff or rod 10, its upper end is provided with a collar 54 secured thereto by means of a pin 55, this collar having a free sliding fit within thesquare bore of the column member33, see Figure 7. V v t t Also, in orderto latch the jack stafi or rod 10 in any given'position, a clamp screw 56 is tapped into one side of the jack body casting ll for clamping engagement with the rod 10; the outer end of the screw 56 is provided with a swivel handle 57 for convenience in operating the screw. I It is apparent that the above described construction permits the drill mounting 36 to be shiftedinto any desired position, the full length of the column member 33, that is, into any position above the cup member 39, this being of very great advantage in that it permits the drill to be operated directly adjacent to a roof or ceiling at the top of the column structure as well as at any lower level above the jack device. The size of the spud member 37 being no greater than that of the diameter of the column 33 permits the mountingto be applied over the member 37 in addition to allowingthe drill mounting 36 to be adjusted the full height of the column.

It is also apparent that the structure of the supporting casting 39 and clamping feature thereof, besides permitting the column 33 to be rotated horizontally into any required position for the operation of the drill, that is about a vertical axis, also facilitates the adjustment of the height of the column to either the minimum or the maximum extension of the jack, the jack rod or staff 10 being allowed to extend upward as far as necessary within the column 33 for low drilling operations; and a further important advantage in this connection is that the method of clamping the 'columnwithin'the casting 39, with the jack rod 10 telescoping therethrough and having its upper end provided with the collar 54 fitting inside the bore of the column, relieves the casting 39 of any material lateral strain as transmitted from the drilling operation, such as might tend to distort the supporting structure and interfere with the accuracy of the drilling by permitting the machine and tools to sway and get out of alinement with the axis of the drill hole.

By reference toFigures 2 and 7 it will be noted how the collar'54 on the shaft 10 serves as a brace inside the square bore of the column 33, and thus cooperates with the jack structure to relieve the casting 39 of any such injurious strain. As also noted in Figures 1 and 2, the jack teeth 22 terminate some distance short of the upper end of the rod 10, so as to avoid any danger of shearing the pin 55 as the column is lengthened,' thus preventing any accidental breaking of the connection between the collar 54 and the rod 10. If required to shift-the position of the drilling machine rotatively, about the verticalaxis of the column, it is only neces sary to loosen the screws 51 and 52 sufiiciently to relieve the clamping pressure upon the extension 44, making the proper adjustment and reclamping the screws into reengagement with the extension 44. l I

The purpose of the 'footpiece construction is to maintain the supporting column rigid against any" tendency to turn about its vertical axis.

The footpiece member has a 90-degree play about the axis of the bolt 17, thus allowing the spurs or prongs 19 to adapt themselves to any irregularity in the floor surface and permitting the column to be set up at any required angle with reference to the footpiece. Should the floor be in a soft condition, the footpiece may be set astride a tie, bar, pipe or timber, of any sort that would prevent sinking of the footpiece into the ground while at the same time preventing it from turning. This avoids the necessity of furnishing a special plank or plate member as a cumbersome part of the equipment, for resting upon soft surfaces. The special type of footpiece herein illustrated, including the lateral ribs 20 and curved saddle portions 21, provides greatly increased strength in the supporting function, since the downward thrust or pressure of the jack rod is taken on the heavy-ribs 20 and their saddle portions 21 in such-a way as to relieve the bolt 17 of any shearing strain; this permits the bolt to serve, as its principal function, to prevent spreading of the fork portions 15 of the jack rod 10.

It will also be npted that the design of the footpiece with its vertical web 16 and lateral ribs 20, formed with the saddle portions 21, is such as to throw the metal stock, at the points where it is most likely to bend, into compression rather than stretching strains, while the web 16 is in itself sufiiciently heavy to practically withstand any tendency to spring down along the bottom portion thereof. the pivotal connection between the jack rod 10 and footpiece member nearer to one end thereof than to the other is also designed for a special functional advantage. This pivotal connection is to the left of the midpoint of the footpiece member in Figures 1 and 2, representing that side of the column at which the drilling operation is to take place. With this construction, when the jack is operated to set and anchor the column, most of the weight comes upon the front prong 19 which becomes embedded more deeply than the other prong; then, when the drilling operation starts,the drilling stress transmits more or less backward pressure against the other prong 19, thus causing it to take its part.

of the load, with a substantial equalization of the pressure upon both prongs. Otherwise, with the pivot bolt 17 equally distant between the two prongs, the drilling operation would produce a tendency of the front prong (at the left in Figures 1 and 2) to rise out of the ground and thus minimize if not destroy its effect as an anchoring prong for the base of the column;

The arrangement and construction of the jack lever 25 and ratchet and pawl devices provides a veryquick-acting adjusting means, the opera tion of which, by a few strokes of the jack lever, lengthens the column the necessary extent for producing a great pressure of the opposite ends I of the column against the roof and floor as required for maintaining a strong, rigid supporting column. The jack construction is also such as to permit a quick and convenient release of the ratchets, and collapse of the column structure into shortened or telescoping relation, when necessary to discontinue the drilling operation or change the position of the column.

In this connection it will also be noted that the arrangement of the jack lever and pawls is such that in lifting the jack lever the pawls ratchet freely upward over the ratchet teeth 22, and at the same time the lever serves as a support for lifting all the parts above it,-in fact, supporting every thing excepting the jack rod 10 and the footpiece. It is also apparent that this type of jack construction provides not only a much quicker-acting but also a much more efficiently operating jacking means than the various forms of screw devices heretofore used, which are very cumbersome as well as lacking in efficiency on account of the high degree of friction involved in their operation.

While I have illustrated and described what I have found to constitute a practical and efficient embodiment of the proposed improvements, I desire to expressly reserve the right to make all such changes or modifications as may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A supporting structure for drilling means The location ofv comprising a tubular column member, a cup casting member clamped to the lower end of said operating slidingly through said body member and sleeve bearing and telescoping upward within said column member, and a clamping collar section embracing the other side of said sleeve bearing and cooperating with said sleeve section to provide a rotatively adjustable connection between said cup casting and body member.

2 A supporting structure, for drilling means comprising a tubular column member, a cup casting member forming a split clamping bearing for said column member and having a sleeve extension bearing formed with anextension upward within said casting and providing a groove for seating the lower end of the column member, jacking means comprising a body member and a slidingly adjustable jack rod operating vertically throughsaid sleeve bearing and upward within said column member, and means providing a combination clamping and rotatively adjustable connection between said jack body member and said sleeve bearing.

3. Asupporting structure for drilling means comprising a tubular column member, a cup casting member clamped to the lower end of said column member and formed with a sleeve extension bearing provided with a terminal bead or flange, jacking means comprising a body member and slidingly adjustable jack rod operating vertically through said sleeve bearing and upward within said column member, said jack body having a sleeve section embracing one side of said sleeve bearing, and means cooperating therewith to provide a rotatively adjustable clamping connection between said cup casting and jack body member and also forming a channel embracing said bead or flange.

4. A supporting structure for drilling means comprising a tubular column member, a supporting casting connected with the lower end of said column member, and jacking means supporting said casting and including a toothed jack rod telescoping upward through said casting and into said column member, and adouble acting lever provided with a pair of ratchet elements engaging said rod, said ratchet elements being pivoted to said lever at opposite sides of its fulcrum and provided with interengaging means whereby one of said elements is operative to maintain the other disengaged from said rod in collapsing the supporting structure.

5. A supporting structure for drilling machines comprising a post or column and a footpiece provided with a ground-engaging prong at each of its opposite ends,'said footpiece being pivotally connected with the lower end of the column and nearer to one end of the footpiece than the,

other.

6. A supporting structure for drilling ma chines comprising a postorcolumn, and a footpiece pivotally connected with the lower end of the column and comprising a vertical web with. longitudinal ribs projecting laterally from the opposite faces of said web and formed with depressions in supporting engagement with the lower end of the column beneath its pivotal connection with the footpiece.

VICTOR L. soo'r'r. 

